Muralitharan sends Proteas into a tizzy, Lankans win by an innings

COLOMBO: Off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan claimed six wickets to help Sri Lanka ease to an innings and 153-run victory over South Africa on the fifth and final afternoon of the first Test on Monday.   

The South Africans resumed the day on 311-4 hoping to save the game, but Muralitharan took the key wickets of Ashwell Prince (61) and Herschelle Gibbs (18) in the morning and then helped polished off the tail after lunch.   

The 34-year-old off added figures of 6-131 to a four-wicket first innings haul on his way to claiming a 17th ten-wicket match of his career, finishing with 10-172 from 82.2 overs.   

South Africa were finally bowled out on the docile Sinhalese Sports Club Ground pitch for 434 after 157.2 overs of determined resistance.   

Four South Africans scored second-innings fifties, but the tourists paid the penalty after being bowled out for a paltry 169 on the first day and some record-breaking batting by the hosts in their response.   

Wicket keeper Mark Boucher led the tourist's rearguard on the final day with a positive 85 from 160 balls before chipping back a return catch to left-arm spinner Sanath Jayasuriya shortly after lunch.   

Muralitharan needed just six deliveries in the morning to strike as Prince, surprised by some extra bounce, edged low to Mahela Jayawardene standing at slip.   

South Africa's stand-in captain in the absence of the injured Graeme Smith, Prince added just one run to his overnight score, finishing with 61 from 182 deliveries.   

Gibbs (18), batting down the order after a viral infection forced him off the field during Sri Lanka's marathon first-innings, added 38 with Boucher before patting a return catch back to Muralitharan off a low full toss.   

Sri Lanka's bowlers pressed hard for further inroads and there were several strong appeals against both Boucher and Nicky Boje.   

Boucher was also dropped by wicket keeper Prasanna Jayawardene after a thin leg-side glance off Muralitharan just before lunch. However, Sri Lanka broke-through soon after the break with Boucher left furious following a sudden lapse of concentration against Jayasuriya.   

Muralitharan proved too good for the tailenders as first Andre Nel was bowled for a duck by a sharp-turning off break and then Dale Steyn was bowled through the gate for four.   

Makhaya Ntini (16) clubbed a six and a four before being bowled by Lasith Malinga to seal Sri Lanka's victory.   

Boje finished on 33 not out after 130 balls. The second Test of the two-match series will be played at the P. Sara Oval, also in Colombo, from August 4.

Scorecard

South Africa 1st innings: 169
Sri Lanka 1st innings: 756-5 decl

South Africa 2nd innings (overnight 311-4):

J Rudolph c Kapugedera b Fernando            90
A Hall lbw b Muralitharan                    64
H Amla lbw b Fernando                         2
A Prince c M Jayawardene b Muralitharan      61
A B de Villiers lbw b Muralitharan           24
M Boucher c and b Jayasuriya                 85
H Gibbs c and b Muralitharan                 18
N Boje not out                               33
A Nel b Muralitharan                          0
D Steyn b Muralitharan                        4
M Ntini b Malinga                            16

Extras: (b-11, lb-4, w-2, nb-20)             37

Total (all out in 157.2 overs)              434

Fall of wickets: 1-165, 2-171, 3-185, 4-234, 5-312, 6-350, 7-401, 8-404, 9-412

Bowling: Malinga 16.2-0-85-1, Maharoof 15-3-48-0, Fernando 24-6-69-2, Muralitharan 64-11-131-6, Dilshan 4-1-10-0, Jayasuriya 34-8-76-1.